2026 Oscar Best Documentary Short Film Predictions
Tracking my evolving predictions for Documentary Short throughout Awards Season.
Documentary Short
*Updated 01.21.2025
|
In the Spotlight | ||
|
1 |
Perfectly a Strangeness (Seeking U.S. Distribution) |
▲ 3 |
|
2 |
We Were the Scenery (Seeking U.S. Distribution) |
▲ 7 |
|
3 |
The Devil is Busy (HBO Documentary Films) |
▼ 1 🔒 |
|
4 |
All the Empty Rooms (Netflix) |
▼ 1 |
|
5 |
Heartbeat (Filmhub) |
▲ 8 |
|
On the Fringe | ||
|
6 |
Bad Hostage (Self-Distributed) |
▲ 1 |
|
7 |
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud (HBO Documentary Films) |
▼ 6 |
|
In the Mix | ||
|
8 |
Classroom 4 (PBS Distribution) |
▼ 3 |
|
9 |
Cashing Out (The New Yorker) |
▼ 1 |
|
10 |
On Healing Land, Birds Perch (L.A. Times) |
▲ 2 |
|
Long Shots | ||
|
11 |
All the Walls Come Down (L.A. Times) |
▼ 5 |
|
12 |
Children No More: “Were and are Gone” (Medalia Productions | Salty Features | Full Story Films) |
▼ 3 |
|
13 |
Rovina’s Choice (The New Yorker) |
▼ 2 |
|
14 |
Chasing Time (PBS Distribution) |
— |
|
15 |
Last Days on Lake Trinity (The New Yorker) |
— |
|
— |
Looking for a Donkey |
🪦 |
The table updates as the awards season shifts – my ADHD and OCD won’t let it sit still. The leaderboard below stays put; it’s the Top 7 I locked in at the start of the month.
